Mark Pate Weinman was born on August 5, 1962 in Jacksonville, North Carolina. His parents, Clyde and Eva, had gotten married at Camp Lejeune that February. Mark was raised in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens, New York where he and his brother David learn box. Mark became a decorated amateur, racking up a record of 42-4; his career culminating in an appearance in the 156-pound final of the 1983 New York Golden Gloves.
Nicknamed the "Hebrew Hammer," Weinman turned pro on November 21, 1985. Possessing a muscular upper body and massive thighs, the 5'8" junior middleweight was a come-forward fighter and dedicated body puncher. Commentator Randy Gordon once said, "I put Weinman, as a body puncher, in the same class as Mike Tyson." Usually wearing a yellow Star of David on his trunks and trained by Tommy Gallagher, the Hammer could've been a solid defensive fighter, but he chose to throw caution to the wind and exchange with his opponents in the pocket, which created exciting fights.
Weinman reeled off five straight knockouts to start his career and eleven victories in total, developing a vocal following along the way. He fought primarily at the famed Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York. In his eighth pro fight, Weinman was an underdog against the hard-punching Charles Bullock. In the third round, the Hammer landed a short right to score a knockdown. He built upon his advantage in the fourth and forced a stoppage in the fifth.
"He looked like a world beater," promoter Steve Tannenbaum told Cliff Brunt of the AP. "He was known in the gyms all around. I mean, he fought everybody. He would beat everybody in the gyms. Just beat them up. He was that good."
Mark married his bride Susan in 1987 before fighting LC Robinson, who Weinman knocked down twice in the first round with right hands. In the third, a left hook floored Robinson and a right scored the fourth and final knockdown of the fight. His record was then 11-0.
Weinman then lost two fights by knockout within two months. He took four years off before suffering a third knockout loss. "I think he was mishandled tremendously by management," his brother David told Brunt.
Weinman didn't get back into the ring for 21 years, the eighth longest layoff in boxing history according to a list compiled by Mike DeLisa and shared with the IBRO. In the interim, Weinman worked as a boxing trainer and lived in Melbourne, Florida and Petrolia, California among other places.
On September 7, 2012, a 50 year old Weinman resumed his career with a second round stoppage victory against Elvis Martinez. He no longer had a mustache or hair on his head, and also had a different mentality. "I figured I’m different than I was when I was back in my 20s," Weinman told Ray Aspuria of the Times Standard. "I came out really aggressive in the first round. This time, I came out nice, calm, and cool so I could feel him out." Weinman said he would've come back a year earlier, but he had been bitten by a rattlesnake.
Just four months later, Weinman was back in the ring. He faced Jahaad Wingfield, an 0-6-1 fighter. Wingfield punished Weinman to win by first round stoppage. Mark vowed to fight on. "I have to," he said. "I have to rectify this debacle."
But he didn't. Around this time, he was diagnosed with IPF. In later years, Weinman had unfortunate brushes with the law. He was arrested for criminal damage in Arizona in 2018 and for corporal injury to spouse/cohabitant in 2023 in California.
As humans, we are all imperfect, some more than others. As a boxer, Mark Weinman's story was one of promise, disappointment, and ultimately redemption. May peace be upon him.
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